FLATHEAD BRAVE

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FLATHEAD BRAVE

• PLAYER/PARENT HANDBOOK 2008

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WIN TODAY!!
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• 2008 Goals
• Win One Game
• Have a winning Season
• Make the Playoffs
• Host a Playoff Game
• Win 9 Games
• WIN the AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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Flathead Brave Football Program Goals

• To Have Fun Playing the Game
• To Become the Best Team We Possibly Can Be
• To Represent our school and community with class
• To Leave Flathead Football a Better Program Than
  Before
• To Understand My Responsibility as a Role Model
• To Hold Myself and My Teammates Accountable
• To Take Something Away From Football Which Will
  Make us better People
• To Work Hard to Achieve our Team and Individual
  Goals

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Flathead Brave Football Program Four Belief
Statements

• The Four Cs
• CHOICE
• COMMITMENT
• COURAGE
• CONTRIBUTION
• Choice- it is your choice to be successful or
  not.  In Athletics, academics or life. It is your
  choice whether or not you will put the team goals
  ahead of your goals. It is your choice whether
  you will work to help the TEAM first. It is your
  Choice as to what kind of ATTITUDE you will bring
  each daybring a good one.
• Commitment- Commit to your choice-it is going to
  take a committed action to achieve your goal and
  the team goals.
• Courage-act in courage to follow your choice! 
  Instead of following the crowd, stand up to your
  choice, commitment with courage.  It takes
  courage to follow the right path. It takes
  courage to be disciplined in life and football.
  It is easy to follow the crowd and do things that
  will hurt our TEAM. It takes courage to stand up
  to the crowd and do the right thingsall the
  time.
• Contribution-when someone helps you or gives you
  a helping hand, you must contribute back to the
  community, school or to others in a similar way.

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Flathead Brave Football Program Philosophy
Priorities -Faith -Family -Education -Fo
otball Three Questions 1. Are you
COMMITTED? -Are you willing to do whatever is
necessary to become your absolute best? 2. How
much do you OWE your teammates? -What important
part do you play that they are relying on for
their success? 3. Can you be TRUSTED? -Do you do
what you are asked to do? -Do you do what you say
you are going to do? Rule of Thumb -Is it best
for FHS? -Is it best for the team? -Is it best
for me? In this order!
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Flathead Brave Football Program Coaching
Philosophy

• Football is a team sport that encompasses many
  areas. Besides the physical skills learned,
  student athletes can learn other life-long skills
  such as self-confidence, self-discipline,
  self-motivation, goal setting, teamwork,
  cooperation, sportsmanship, and leadership.
  Players will learn about commitment and balancing
  many obligations. Decisions made by the Flathead
  football coaching staff will be based on what is
  good for the football program, what is good for
  the team, what is good for the individual, and
  what is good for Flathead High School.

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Lettering Policy

• A player can earn a varsity letter by doing each
  of the following
• Finish the season and turn in all equipment
• Play a minimum of 5 varsity quarters-Players who
  are unsure of their status at the end of the
  season should submit a list of games played to
  coach McCarvel. 1 play in a quarter 1 quarter.
• Complete the season with no personal foul or
  unsportsmanlike penalties
• Have NO unexcused absences from practices or
  meetings scheduled by the coaching staff.
• Maintain proper conduct at all practices and
  contests and follow appropriate school
  guidelines.
• Participate in all weight room activitiesthis
  includes summer and off season.
• COACHES RECOMMENDATION The FHS football staff by
  collective agreement may award any athlete a
  letter.
• If an athlete fails to meet on of the
  guidelines 3-6, additional conditioning or
  community service may be used to atone for the
  indiscretions. Habitual failures will not be
  compensated and the athlete will forfeit his
  right to a Brave Letter.

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Expectations of Brave Football Coaches

• Supporters of Flathead Athletics and Brave
  Football can expect the following from the
  football coaching staff
• They will be a positive role model.
• They will be a leader and a motivator.
• They will be a firm and fair disciplinarian.
• They will follow the team first, individuals
  second belief.
• They will be committed to the football program,
  to the team, to the players, to the parents, to
  Flathead High School, and to the Kalispell
  community.
• They will be positive, supportive, enthusiastic,
  and encouraging.
• They will be fully prepared and organized for
  each practice and game.
• They will be honest with players and parents
  about player roles on the team.
• They will communicate well with players, parents
  and the administration.
• They will follow and uphold all Flathead High
  School and all football team rules and
  expectations

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Expectations of Parents

• Parents of athletes of the Flathead Brave
  Football program are expected to adhere to the
  following expectations
• Be aware of your sons needs, feelings and
  concerns.
• Attend as many contests as possible so you get a
  full and complete picture.
• Understand the point of
• Your son/ Yourself/ Other athletes and parents/
  The coach or coaches
• Support the team first, individual second
  belief.
• Show positive support and encouragement for your
  son, for all members of the team and for the
  Flathead football program. Never talk to a coach
  about other players on the team.
• Demonstrate sportsmanship at all games.
• Allow your son to participate on the team in his
  own way. Dont re-live your career through his.
• Dont initiate discussion of the game with your
  son.
• Let 24 hours elapse before initiating
  communication with the 5-Step process outlined in
  the FHS activity handbook.
• .

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Expectations of Parents

• The 5-Step communication process as outlined in
  the Flathead High School activity handbook to
  resolve all conflict
• Athlete meets with individual position coach
  and/or head coach.
• Athlete and parent meet with position coach
  and/or head coach.
• Athlete, parent and head coach meet with activity
  director.
• Athlete, parent, head coach and activity director
  meet with principal.
• Athlete, parent, head coach, activity director
  and principal meet with superintendent.

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EXPECTATIONS OF BRAVE FOOTBALL PLAYERS
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CHOICE Not everyone can be all-conference or
all-state, but everyone can CHOOSE to hustle 100
all the time as hard as they can. We can win with
that kind of effort everyday and every drill. You
must compete not only in games but in practice as
well. You must compete against your opponent, you
must compete against your teammates in practice
and you must compete against yourself to make
yourself the best you can possibly be as a player
and as a person
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COURAGE Football is replica of life in no other
sport do you get knocked down more.  It takes
courage to step forward when others step back, it
takes courage to fight through tough times and it
takes courage to do what is right every single
day.  You have to just keep getting up with more
determination and effort to be successful. It is
important to show courage because this is the
primary way their teammates will respect them.
The more honor and respect among teammates, the
greater the team. Players dont respect ability,
the stand in awe of ability, ability is a gift.
But players will respect courage
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COMMITMENT You must be committed to knowing your
alignment, your assignment and committing to
PREPARE physically and mentally for battle. No
matter what offense or defense we run, we dont
have a chance to be successful if you have not
prepared mentally and physically.  Knowing your
assignment or where you are supposed to line up
is a basic fundamental, but it is an essential
element. Consistency in our commitment is what we
are looking to achieve because only then can we
be great.
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CONTRIBUTION You must understand what your role
is and make the contribution to the team in
whatever is expected of you.  Your daily
commitment to prepare needs to be carried over to
the entire team and program.  Underclassmen need
to see the dedication and feel your intensity
each day.
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Brave Varsity Team Expectations

• The varsity Brave football team represents the
  highest level of competition at Flathead High
  School. Our ultimate goal will always be striving
  to win the state class AA football championship
  as we incorporate and apply our four program
  belief statements mentioned on the previous page.
  As a member of the varsity team, you are not
  guaranteed equal opportunity to participate in
  every contest. Every team member has a role and
  each role is extremely important, especially in
  football where there are so many roles and the
  number of participants is so crucial. While each
  role may not be equal in participation time, they
  are ALL equal in their measure of importance to
  the team and to our overall performance.

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Brave Varsity Team Expectations

• A team first attitude unselfish, positive,
  encouraging, and supportive
• A coachable attitude willing to listen, improve
  and accept constructive criticism
• A loyal commitment to Flathead football and the
  entire program, supporting all teammates and
  coaches
• A commitment to give their very best effort each
  and every day
• Be self disciplined
• Be self motivated
• Follow all school, classroom and team rules
• Be a positive role model and a positive
  ambassador for Flathead Brave football, Flathead
  High School and the Kalispell community.
• Be committed to strive for the highest individual
  level of physical conditioning.
• Be committed to off-season programs including
  camps, workouts and our weight training program.
• Understand and accept your role on the team.

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Brave Junior Varsity Team Expectations The goal
of the Brave junior varsity football program is
to prepare players for the varsity program.
Junior Varsity level football games allow players
the opportunity to gain experience in game
situations and improve their skills for varsity
readiness. To achieve this goal, any player in
any grade may be asked to play in a junior
varsity game. All junior varsity athletes carry
the same expectations as listed above for varsity
players and all players who follow these rules
will be able to participate. As with the varsity
program, each player has a role and some roles
will include more playing time than others.
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Brave Sophomore and Freshmen Team
Expectations The goal of the Brave sophomore
and freshmen football programs is ultimately to
prepare players for the varsity level. Sophomore
and freshman level football games allow players
the opportunity to improve their skills and gain
the experience necessary to successfully
transition through the program and compete at the
highest level. All sophomore and freshmen
athletes carry the same expectations as varsity
athletes and all athletes who meet these
expectations will be able to participate. Unlike
the JV and varsity levels however, the sophomore
and freshmen teams will only be made up of
athletes from that grade level except for the
rare occasion that a freshman is moved up to the
sophomore or JV level by the coaching staff.
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Flathead Brave Football Team RulesDo what
needs to be done, when it needs to be done, as
well as you possibly can, all the time.

• Because it is such a privilege to play football
  for the Flathead Braves, an athlete must strive
  to be the kind of quality young man we are
  teaching him to become. In order to participate
  in a varsity football contest, he must be in good
  standing academically, have no disciplinary
  infractions at FHS, in any classroom, or on our
  team, and he must have met all team practice
  expectations during the week.
• ACADEMICS Grades will be checked weekly by the
  coaching staff.
• All team members must be in good academic
  standing carrying five classes and passing all
  subjects for the previous semester to be eligible
  to play on the team.
• Any athlete who falls into the danger zone
  academically by earning a D and/or an F in any
  class may be required to attend team study table
  three days per week at 730 am in the morning
  until the grade is improved to a C or better.
• During the season, a player who is on academic
  probation cannot be a team captain or win weekly
  awards.
• If a player misses a study table for any reason,
  he will miss his first series during Friday
  nights game. If he misses a second study table,
  he will not play in one quarter. A third miss
  will constitute missing an entire game.

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DISCIPLINEIllegal Substances

• Players must abstain from smoking, chewing
  tobacco, drinking alcohol, and the use of any
  illegal drugs.
• Players must abstain from attending gatherings or
  riding in vehicles where any of the above
  substances are present.
• Breaking these rules will result in immediate
  removal from the team for the remainder of the
  season.

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FHS, Classroom and Team Rules

• Must meet all rules of Flathead High School and
  have no disciplinary infractions that the
  administration must be involved with.
• Must meet all rules of each individual classroom
  teacher and have no disciplinary infractions with
  teaching staff.
• Must meet all rules of our team and have no
  disciplinary infractions.
• Each instance of breaking these rules. will be
  dealt with swiftly and will carry consequences.
  The specific consequences will depend on the
  individual case, the history of the player
  involved, and the judgment of the coaching staff.
  Consequences may include extra conditioning, loss
  of captainship, not being named a starter and
  possibly loss of playing time.

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PRACTICE

• Each and every practice is mandatory. Players
  need to be in practice each and every day. This
  is vital for their individual improvement and
  because of their individual commitment to the
  team. Each players presence at each practice is
  essential for the continued development of our
  team. Missed practices hurt the team severely and
  players who miss will suffer consequences
  depending upon the reason for missing.
• Because of our high expectations for practice
  attendance and because of our liability for
  player well being each day, every missed practice
  must be cleared with the coaching staff before
  the practice begins or it will be counted as
  unexcused. A note or a friend relaying a message
  is NOT adequate and will NOT be acceptable. The
  player must take the responsibility upon himself
  to contact his position coach and/or the head
  coach using the phone numbers and/or emails
  provided in this handbook.
• Players will not attend practice and simply watch
  wearing civilian clothes. If this is the case,
  the player should be at home in bed getting
  healthy so he does not miss a second day unless
  he is obviously seriously injured and is already
  out of the next game.

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PRACTICE

• When an athlete is sick or injured but not to the
  extent to require an absence, the athlete will be
  dressed out and present at practice and the
  trainer and coaching staff will decide his level
  of participation that day. The player should go
  to all drills specific to his position.
• Absences Any absence due to illness, injury or
  family reasons that have been communicated
  properly with the coaching staff and the trainer
  prior to practice will be considered excused and
  the following guidelines will be applied then to
  missed practices
• Consequence
• 1 or 2 Missed Practices A Player may not start
  and may miss playing time.
• 3 Missed Practices Player will not play in the
  next game
• A continued pattern of absenteeism could result
  in more severe penalties
• Note It is the players responsibility to make
  his very best effort to attempt to schedule ALL
  conflicts around our practices so he is present.
  This includes academic make-ups and all personal
  issues. Try to make up all academic work before
  school or during a lunch or study hall.
  Communicate early and often with your teachers
  and use your coaches to help you communicate with
  them about these issues so you can be at practice.

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Unexcused Absences

• Any absence that is not communicated to the
  coaching staff properly prior to practice or that
  is for any reason not sufficient to warrant an
  absence.
• Consequence All unexcused absences will
  immediately eliminate that player from
  participation in the next contest. A second
  unexcused absence will result in possible removal
  from the team after a meeting with the athlete,
  the parents, the head coach and the athletic
  director.
• Note All unexcused absences will come with an
  extra conditioning penalty

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Tardiness

• Be on time! All athletes are expected to be
  dressed in the proper attire, taped and on the
  field or in their meeting ready to go a minimum
  of 5 minutes before the practice or meeting
  begins. It is the responsibility of the athlete
  to find a coach or trainer to get the treatment
  needed before practice begins so you are on time.
  
• Consequence An extra conditioning penalty will
  be applied to all athletes who are not punctual.
  Continued tardiness will result in loss of
  playing time.

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Dress Expectations

• 1. Practice
• Practice attire should be appropriate and legal
  each day. The specific dress for each practice
  will always be listed on the daily practice
  schedule and it is the responsibility of each
  player to have the necessary equipment for that
  day. For helmet only or spirit pack practices,
  the team issued spirit pack must be worn. Failure
  to meet any of these expectations will result in
  an extra conditioning penalty.
• 2. Issued Uniforms and Travel Bags
• -You are personally responsible for the care and
  maintenance of all equipment, uniforms and Brave
  Football materials you are issued during the
  season and for returning them at the end of the
  season in good condition. Uniforms and pants
  should be washed in colddo not bleach. Any
  damaged or lost items will be charged to the
  player.
• -You must have a lock for your locker! You are
  responsible for any lost and/or stolen items.
• 3. Travel
• -All players must be dressed in the team travel
  attire decided upon by our seniors and team
  captains that season.
• -Absolutely no hats are allowed on any of our
  road trips.
• -Failure to report to the bus in the proper
  travel attire will either result in the player
  being left home for that trip or in an extra
  conditioning penalty.

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Travel Expectations

• All players will travel with the team on the bus
  to the game. Players may return home with their
  parents after the game only if the parent
  individually notifies the coach in person.
  Players may only ride home with their parents not
  with a teammates parents.
• Our expectations of being quality young men will
  be in effect when we travel and the bus driver
  and all employees at restaurants and high schools
  will be treated with the utmost respect. The
  restaurant, the locker room and the bus will be
  left better than when we found them or extra
  conditioning will be the result.

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Locker room Expectations

• The locker room is our home and must be taken
  care of with pride. Each player must have a lock
  on his locker and must maintain and clean his
  locker. The locker room will be kept spotless
  after practice each day. It is not the job of the
  janitor to pick up after us. It is our job to
  repay the janitor for all he does for us by
  keeping our area clean. Any locker room mess will
  result in extra conditioning for the team.

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• Russell McCarvel
• 314-4083 (home)
• 406-461-8150 (cell)
• mccarvelr_at_sd5.k12.mt.us

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The Man in the Arena Teddy Roosevelt

• "It is not the critic who counts not the man who
  points out how the strong man stumbles, or where
  the doer of deeds could have done them better.
  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
  the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat
  and blood who strives valiantly who errs, who
  comes short again and again, because there is no
  effort without error and shortcoming but who
  does actually strive to do the deeds who knows
  great enthusiasms, the great devotions who
  spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best
  knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
  and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails
  while daring greatly, so that his place shall
  never be with those cold and timid souls who
  neither know victory nor defeat."